WORK to bring back the vegetation on an island near Tuncurry has led to the discovery of an endangered resident.

More than 8000 plants and 26 species of grasses have been spread across Gereeba Island as part of a Midcoast Council plan to control weeds that had had thrived in its floodplain soils.

Sensor cameras used during the three-year project to keep an eye on feral foxes instead revealed a brush-tailed phascogale had taken up residence.

The phascogale, a threatened species in NSW, was potential prey for the five foxes moved off the island during the works.

Adult phascogales reach about 20 centimetres in length, and threatened due to introduced species preying on them and the loss of hollow-bearing trees. Nesting boxes have been installed on Gereeba Island.